Cardiovascular health is often a blanket term used to describe a primary benefit for many kinds of exercise and activities that promise body-friendly, healthful results. But what is cardiovascular health, and how does it relate to swimming? And how can a reasonable investment in an above ground swimming pool also be an investment in long-term cardiovascular health?

In case you just now returned to this planet from vacation outside the solar system: swimmer Michael Phelps earned eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics—besting the swimming record of seven gold medals won in a single Olympics held by swimmer Mark Spitz since 1972.